Kentucky adopts tougher surface-mining guidelines

6:17 PM,
Jan. 7, 2010

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FRANKFORT, Ky. - Kentucky has issued tougher guidelines for surface coal mines that officials say will protect streams and lead to faster and better reclamation of hillsides and mountains.

The guidelines, hammered out over the past year by federal and state regulatory officials, environmentalists and coal-industry representatives, call on coal operators to place more "spoil" material disrupted by mining - such as dirt and rock - back on the mine sites, instead of dumping it into valleys and stream beds. They are already in effect.